The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-12-03
THE KILLING OF HARRIS.
History of Murder for Which William G.
Corbin Will Be Called to Answer.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal
SULLIVAN, H., Dec. Judge Walker ad-
journed the fall term of Circuit Court for this
county to-day. The Corbin murder trial was
continued on account of the absence of alleged
important witnesses" On the 23d of September
last VIM. p Corbin shot and killed Charles T.
Harris. Corbin was the exclusive furniture deal
er of this quiet little city OF 900 inhabitants, and
owned controlled several business houses
aside from the he occupied himself.
Charles T. Harris proprietor of q
drug store and rented q room from Corbin
adjoining the furniture store. On a Sunday in
july last, fire occurred in Harrs's drug store
causing considerable loss stock and doing
slight damage to the building. The two men
had been passaby good friends neiehbor
merchants until this occurrence, when Corbin
became rather bold in his assertions that Harris
had set fire to the building, thus engendering
bitter feeling between the two Later.
Harris vacated Cosbins building, and, as
a matter OF self-defense against Cor
bins accusations, related TO mutual
friends incidents regarding Corbin's immoral
conduct, to which he had been an eye -witness,
IN the rear part of the furniture store, which
reflected in damaging manner the owner,
though, as long as he was a tenant, he had said
nothing publicly concerning his landlords dis
reputable conduct. Corbin grew louder and
louder in his accusations. and began to indulge
in open threats against Harris, arming himself
with a fve-shot revolver, though there
was evidence that Harris had made
any threats against his life, yet the mutual
friends apprsing him of his enemy's threats and
armed condition caused him to carry revolver
On Sept. % the two men met on the sidewalk in
front of the Corbin building, and all witnesses
to the ARRAY which followed substantially agree
that Corbin made the attack. firing first and
1act ILL
another into his breast Harris fell
and expired on the spot, within a
was found upon his person. with all five cham
bers empty. while Harriss had but one empty
chamber. Corbin was not scratched The wit
nesses, with one exception, claim that Harris
closeted for hour with Corbin's attorneys
prior to giving his peculiar testimony before the
coroners jury. When Harris fell, and was fast
dying upon the street. friends rushed to his
sstance, while Corbin entered his store and
came out again, making lame excuse for his
terrible deed. He was Immediately arrested
and placed in jail for his personal safety as
well as in compliance with the mandates of the
law. for personally, Harris mad five friends to
his one. He refused to go before the coroners
jury and testify or make statement in his own
behalf Habeas corpus proceedings were prayed
for before Judge Smith, in Decatur, and the
case granted herring, but tha court refused the
appeal for CortIn's admission to bail. He
was soldier in the Mexican and has had
peculiar domestic history, having been divorced
from his first wife. only to marry her again, and
live with her until her death Later, he mar
ried q widow who had been bride on three
former occasions, two of her husbands having |
died. and their domestic relations have not been
of the most pleasant nature. 1t is current ru-
NOR here that, short time previous to the kill |
ing of Harris, Corbin's wife consulted lawyer |
with view to institutipg proceedings for |
divorce. on the ground of alleged suniaw, |
full conduct of her liege lord with certaifg |
disrepusable characters the facts of which had |
reached her ears through Harris and the ever |
ready mutual friends. It is also alleged that |
other prominent men of the city who sustained |
secret relations with disreputables in connection
with the accused were fearful that Harris might |
tell publicly what he might know of their |
capades, and these urged Corbin to bluff Harris |
by threats, in the hope that if it did not do him
any good 1t might cause Harris to keep silent in |
regard to themselves, to which he had equal |
chance OF being an eyewitness, and If made |
public, would create great disturbance in their |
domestic atmosphere. Corbin is quoted as say |
ing since his incarceration, that had it not |
been for his fool friends he would not have felt |
sufficiently angered TO do as he did"
In the habeas corpus proceedings witness |
testified to having heard Harris make threats |
against Corbns life It has later transpired |
that this witness did not arrive in Sullivan until |
the morning following the murder. and that he |
received his first news of 1t from tho citizens he
met coming from the depot to the square. He |
had been continuously absent for four months, |
and bad no knowledge of the trouble which had |
arisen between the slayer and the slain.
The evidence is strong against the defendant, |
and the public sympathy is with the widow of |
the murdered man and her three small children. |
At the past term of court the grand jury |
turned an indictment for murder against Cor
bin. His attorneys are ex-Judge Thornton, of |
ShelbyvIile, Hon. John Il. Eden and j. d Titus /
The State is represented by States Attorney S. |
Nj. Snyder, his assistant, Eden Jennings, who |
will be supported in the trial by Hon. II. J. }
Hamlin, of Shelbyville, III. It will be a very |
trial. and will be holly contested at
eyerv legal point